: Costs could exceed $100,000 for a single animal, including secure enclosures with high walls and caged-in ceilings to prevent dangerous escapes.
Buying a "big cat" (such as a lion, tiger, or leopard) is effectively in the United States as of 2022. While some may still seek these animals out of fascination, federal law now treats them as "prohibited wildlife species," strictly limiting their possession to accredited zoos, universities, and sanctuaries. 1. Legal Prohibitions buy a big cat
: Most standard veterinarians will not treat big cats due to liability and lack of specialized equipment, such as the heavy-duty "squeeze cages" required for safe exams. 3. Ethical and Safety Concerns What You Need to Know About the Big Cat Public Safety Act : Costs could exceed $100,000 for a single
: The law also prohibits public contact with big cats, ending "cub-petting" photo opportunities that previously fueled commercial breeding cycles. 2. Financial and Logistical Reality Ethical and Safety Concerns What You Need to
: Individuals who already owned big cats before the law was enacted were allowed to keep them only if they registered them with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by June 18, 2023. No new big cats can be acquired by these owners.
Before these bans, the cost and effort required to "properly" house a big cat were astronomical. Experts from organizations like Big Cat Rescue highlight the extreme burdens: